Holder for effervescent liquids

ABSTRACT

The specification relates to the retention of carbonation of effervescent liquids stored in plastic bottles. The invention is holder that allows the plastic bottle to be held in an inverted position and forms a liquid seal between the threaded top of the bottle and the holder&#39;s threaded cavity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Effervescent beverages are very popular with consumers. Effervescent beverages are produced by dissolving a gas, typically carbon dioxide, into the liquid beverage. This process is often called carbonation. The use of low gas permeable plastics has allowed the packaging of effervescent beverages in plastic containers. Effervescent beverages are provided in a variety of plastic containers of different volumes. One popular size is the two liter bottle. Although popular, the two liter bottle once opened and recapped my lose carbonation or go flat before the entire contents are consumed. This invention relates to the improvement of the retention of carbonation of beverages or any effervescent liquid stored in plastic bottles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The use of plastic containers to store effervescent liquids or beverages is an accepted practice. The retention of carbonation of an unopened container is sufficient for shipment, warehousing and retail sale. Once the bottle is opened, however, the effervescent liquid may lose its “fizz” or carbonation before the contents are consumed. One cause for the loss of carbonation is the failure of the seal between the cap and the top of opened bottle. The replaced cap does not provide a sufficient seal to the top of the bottle, allowing the gas to slowly escape, thereby causing the effervescent liquid to lose its “fizz” or carbonation. To improve the retention of carbonation the seal between the cap and the bottle top must be improved.

One way to improve the seal between the cap and the bottle top is to use the liquid contents to form an additional seal between the replaced cap and the bottle top. This additional seal can be formed by simply inverting the bottle. Inversion, however, is not practical without a holder for the bottle because the diameter of the cap is significantly less than that of the bottle allowing the bottle to tip over. Thus a holder is necessary to keep the bottle in the required inverted position.

Others have developed holders to keep bottles in inverted positions, however, these inventions are inferior because they do not address another cause for the loss of carbonation, that is the thickness of the cap. A tight seal between the cap and the bottle prevents loss of carbonation. However the gas can also simply diffuse through the plastic at the top of the bottle top and the cap. The rate of diffusion is dependent on the thickness of the material it must defuse through, the more material the less the rate of diffusion. Additionally, a sturdier cap will allow for more torque force to be applied to the cap/bottle top assembly thereby providing a better primary seal not possible with the original cap. Thus the disclosed invention improves the retention of carbonation by replacing the original cap with a holder that will screw on to the top of the bottle and keeps the bottle in an inverted position allowing the liquid to form a secondary seal. Additionally, a thicker cap provides a better barrier against diffusion and allows for more torque to be applied forming a tighter seal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a prior art holder.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the invention with a bottle.

FIG. 3 is a top down view of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a top down view of a prior art holder

FIG. 5 is a side view of the invention without a bottle installed.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the invention with a bottle installed.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of prior art with a bottle installed.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the invention with the sealing cone.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the invention with the sealing cone with a bottle installed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following provides a description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, but in no way limits the invention. Other configurations are possible. This is especially true because the invention can be configured to accept any type of plastic bottle 1.

The holder 3 is a cylinder with an opening 7 on one end. The opening 7 is tapered to accommodate the tapered top end of a plastic beverage bottle 1. At the bottom of the opening 7 is a cylindrical cavity 5 that is tapped or threaded to accommodate the screw top of the plastic beverage bottle 1. To practice the invention, the holder 3 is placed on top the plastic beverage bottle 1 and the holder is screwed on to the top of the bottle 1. The bottle 1 is then inverted and the holder 3 then supports the bottle 1 as it rests on the counter or storage shelf in the refrigerator. Another embodiment of the invention includes an additional sealing device. Namely, a cone 8 placed in the bottom of the threaded cavity 5. The base of the cone 8 should fit snuggly within the opening of the bottle 1 top.

In another mode of the invention, flanges, or tabs, that have a tongue and groove or male and female configuration that are placed onto the outer diameter of the holder 3 that can be snap fit or slidingly fitted together to allow a plurality of holders 3 to be linked together in a chain, or in a grid pattern to accommodate an equal plurality of bottles 1. Lastly, a seam or joint may be engineered throughout out the outer and inner diameter, as well as the bottom of the holder 3 to allow the holder 3 to collapse from a round cylinder to a flat piece. 

1. A holder that aides in the retention of carbonation of effervescent liquids said holder comprising: a cylindrical base portion having two ends; with one of the ends being open, cylindrical, and tapered to fit the tapered top end of a plastic beverage bottle; at the bottom of said base portion is a cavity having tapped or molded threads to allow said holder to be screwed on to the top of said plastic beverage bottle.
 2. A holder that aides in the retention of carbonation of effervescent liquids said holder comprising: a cylindrical base portion having two ends; with one of the ends being open, cylindrical, and tapered to fit the tapered top end of a plastic beverage bottle; at the bottom of said base portion is a cylindrical cavity having tapped or molded threads to allow said holder to be screwed on to the top of said plastic beverage bottle; and a cone located at the bottom of said cylindrical cavity, wherein the outer dimension of said cone will fit tightly within the inner diameter of said screw top of said beverage bottle.
 3. The holder of claim 1 wherein the dimensions of said opening will accommodate the outer dimensions of the screw top of a twelve ounce, half liter, or two liter plastic beverage bottle; and the width of the walls of said cylindrical cavity are greater than 1.4 mm.
 4. The holder of claim 2 wherein the dimensions of said opening will accommodate the outer dimensions of the top end of a twelve ounce, half liter, or two liter plastic beverage bottle; and the width of the walls of said cylindrical cavity are greater than 1.4 mm.
 5. The holder of claim 1 wherein linking means are provided for on the outer diameter of said cylindrical base portion so that a plurality of said cylindrical base portions can be linked together to form a chain of holders or a grid of holders.
 6. The holder of claim 2 wherein linking means are provided for on the outer diameter of said cylindrical base portion so that a plurality of said cylindrical base portions can be linked together to form a chain of holders or a grid of holders.
 7. The holder of claim 1 wherein a joint means is provided to allow the holder to collapse from a round cylinder to a flat piece.
 8. The holder of claim 2 wherein a joint means is provided to allow the holder to collapse from a round cylinder to a flat piece. 